$29,999
Questions and offers are always welcome. USS Hardhead (SS-365), a Balao-classsubmarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the hardhead, a fish of thecroaker family. Hardhead received 6 battle stars for World War II service. All 6 of her combat patrols were "successful".Hardhead was launched by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin, twelve December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. E. F. McDonald; and commissioned eighteen April 1944, Commander Fitzhugh McMaster1st war patrol, July – September 1944EditHardhead, departed on her 1st war patrol 27 July and proceeded to her patrol area off thePhilippines. Early eighteen August she detected theJapanese cruiser Natori east of San Bernardino Strait, and closed for a surface attack. The 1st well-directed salvo stopped the cruiser dead in the water; a 2nd sent her to the bottom.During the remainder of her 1st patrolHardhead rendered lifeguard services during strikes by fleet aircraft on the Philippines and operated with a reconnaissance line during the Palaus operation. She arrived Fremantle,Australia, 26 September 1944.2nd war patrol, October – December 1944EditHardhead's 2nd patrol began as she departed Fremantle 24 October and set course for the Philippines. While steaming on the surface through the Sulu Sea October she discovered a life raft adrift. In it was Commander Bakutis, fighter squadron commander of the aircraft carrier Enterprise, who had been in the water for 6 days after being shot down during America's victory in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.Operating in a coordinated group with Growlerand Hake, the submarine sighted a large cargo ship with escorts eight November. After being driven off in 1 attack, Hardheadaggressively gained an ahead position and sank Manei Maru. It was during this attack that Growler was lost.Hardhead performed lifeguard duty off Subic Bay in November and on 25 November came upon an escorted merchant ship. She sank a coast defense vessel, damaged the merchantman, and evaded a retaliatory depth charge attack. Soon afterward, the submarine returned to Fremantle, ending another patrol on five December.3rd and 4th war patrols, December 1944 – May 1945EditPutting to sea again 24 December, Hardheadbegan her 3rd war patrol in the South China Sea. Operating with Besugo and Blackfin,Hardhead damaged several ships before sinking Nanshin Maru two February 1945. Following lifeguard duty for the B-29 strikes on Singapore she returned to Fremantle fifteen February.Hardhead's 4th war patrol included a special mine-laying mission. She sailed twenty March 1945 and laid mines off FrenchIndochina during the night of two April. The submarine then entered the Gulf of Siam, where after several attacks she sank cargo ship Araosan Maru six April. Following a visit to Subic Bay to reload eleven April – fifteen April she patrolled the South China Sea, but found few contacts. American submarines had by this time reduced Japanese merchant activity to a trickle, effectively destroying the island nation's lifeline to the outside world. Hardheadreturned to Fremantle sixteen May.In outstanding condition, 2 holes in the wood from mounting. Large and heavy plaque.
